Blacktop 1958 with p90s??

[phildaws]

Joeydego, it will be the other ones going to pay for the gibson, my impulse buy that needs to be funded somehow!

The gibson is going nowhere, all being well

[lewddude]

The Black Brown Combo is what first made me lust, then the P90's. Once I played it, I fell in love. My binding matches the pup cover color pretty close. Not orange at all. But yours also has speed knobs as well. Mine hase the top hat knobs. I wish they were the vintage amber ones, but I am too much of a purist to change mine. These pots are stiff as shit! how are yours? What year is yours? mine is a 2007.

[Mr Insane]

Welcome and stunning guitar.

[SKATTERBRANE]

I am just not sure why it was called a R8? At least R7 would make some sense.

[lewddude]

Originally Posted by Norbe

I am just not sure why it was called a R8? At least R7 would make some sense.

I think it's more of a case of "someone ordered an R8 with p90's" than anything else. I could care less what the serial number says, it's an R6 with no pick guard!

[SKATTERBRANE]

Well, I do not really care, it is just interesting. I have seen plenty of HB R8s with a black top.

[phildaws]

After doing a bit more digging it is a one-off special ordered R8, requested by a Canadian Dealer back in 2001, it then went via Daves Vintage Guitars to Mick Ralphs, who then p/ex'd it at the shop I bought it from.

Emailed Gibson to see if they can tell me anymore, but I have a feeling that might be the end of the trail..

thanks for all the compliments...

[lewddude]

Originally Posted by phildaws

After doing a bit more digging it is a one-off special ordered R8, requested by a Canadian Dealer back in 2001, it then went via Daves Vintage Guitars to Mick Ralphs, who then p/ex'd it at the shop I bought it from.

Emailed Gibson to see if they can tell me anymore, but I have a feeling that might be the end of the trail..

thanks for all the compliments...

Dude, thanx for sharing it!

[Olli]

I love it!

I usually say that a Les Paul needs a pickguard but yours looks so cool without one installed If it was mine I would leave it as it is!
I´m loving the speedknobs on that one!
Awesome guitar.

I do like your Tele too - nice to have a tele with binding IMO!

I have the same amp btw - modded with a 10 inch Celestion Greenback.

[Mr Insane]

After seeing your guitar without the pickguard, I might take mine off.

[bluesjuke]

I've always liked the blacktops and it's nice to dee some here.
Hope to get a second R6 like that one day.

[lewddude]

Dude! say it aint so!!! you sold your Ebony Top R8??? I hope some one on here got it! who did you sell it to, and how much did you let it go for?

[SKATTERBRANE]

Does it have a Custom Shop logo on the back of the headstock? If so, it is not a reissue, it is a 1998 Custom Shop Standard. It was not until 1999 the serial number for Custom Shop Les Pauls started with "CS"

[SKATTERBRANE]

Originally Posted by phildaws

Hi, been a lurker for a while, but now I have a Les Paul I feel I have a need to post...

Got this one from a well established UK guitar shop, at first I thought they must have advertised it wrong, a R8 with P90's, must be a '56 reissue I assumed. As it was a blacktop I snapped it up regardless.

Turned up today and the serial is the following format 8 XXXX, the original hangers also confirm a 1958 Les Paul, Black with P90s, so definately an R8, are these common?

I got it for a great price so I am not too concerned if it is as rare as hens teeth or common as muck, plus it plays great, has a big fat neck and smells as only a gibson can!

The only thing I can fault is a slightly orange binding colour, but what the hell!

Interestingly enough, a second tag has "Gibson LP, Black P90s, Mick Ralphs, Price TBA"... and the case is a Peter Frampton one, a guitar which I have seen pictures of Mick playing recently.. the shop seemed quite excited about the history of this one and I am not one to put the dampers on a great story, so I will leave it at that..

Any information on this guitar would be much appreciated.

I had hoped to join Lewddude as a fellow Blacktop R6 owner, I have spent long enough drooling over his guitar on this forum, but seems I am instead a R8 blacktop owner, never mind!

Hopefully these pictures turn out ok, will take a few more in daylight..

Let me guess, it has a Custom Shop decal on the back of the headstock and the second digit is 9 as in 8 9xxx?

[CELLO]

I have an ebony 1997 Custom Shop R8, serial number is 8 7xxx. No custom shop logo on the back. Have the warranty card, it was sold 9/18/98.

[SKATTERBRANE]

Yes there are plenty of black topped R8s out there, but I suspect the one with P90s is a Custom Shop Les Paul with SN 8 9xxx. It is a 1998. There are LOTS of 1997 and 1998 Custom Shop Les Pauls mistaken for R7s and R8s.

Many dealers don't even seem to understand this.

[banditguitarist1]

That is sucha bitchin lookin les paul nice find!

[R8R6Ben]

ever since I seen Lewd's blacktop P90 axe I've been on the prowl for one and now thanks to you my GAS has doubled lol...killer guitar man!!!

[lewddude]

Originally Posted by SKATTERBRANE

Yes there are plenty of black topped R8s out there, but I suspect the one with P90s is a Custom Shop Les Paul with SN 8 9xxx. It is a 1998. There are LOTS of 1997 and 1998 Custom Shop Les Pauls mistaken for R7s and R8s.

Many dealers don't even seem to understand this.

we from the same planet? I hear what your sayin' about the custom shop misunderstandings, but regardless I have not seen many(custom shop or Historic) at all. Granted I have only been playing for 20 years(drop in the bucket to some of the guys on here) but black/ebony tops are not common. Mine is a 2007 Historic R6 gloss, and those you can count on one hand! Try and find an Ebony top online... You might find a '54, but if you read about it, it used to be gold! Go ahead, I'll wait!